Cigarette paper feed

Abstract

A web handling device through which a web is arranged to pass along a tortuous path extending around a number of rollers includes means for threading the web pneumatically comprising, in association with at least one of the rollers, a guide member having a guide surface which extends around part of the periphery of the roller in a spaced relationship so as to define a passage for the web, means for directing the web approximately tangentially towards the guide surface, and an air mover mounted on or adjacent to the upstream end of the guide surface, and arranged to pass a moving film of air along the guide surface while the web is being threaded through the apparatus, so as to entrain the web and convey it around the roller.

We claim: 
     
       1. A web handling device through which the web is arranged to pass along a tortuous path extending around a number of rollers and including means for threading the web pneumatically comprising, in association with at least one of the rollers, a guide member having a guide surface which extends around part of the periphery of the roller in a spaced relationship so as to define a passage for the web, means for directing the web approximately tangentially towards the guide surface, an air mover mounted on or adjacent to the upstream end of the guide surface, and arranged to pass a moving film of air along the guide surface while the web is being threaded through the apparatus, so as to entrain the web and convey it around the roller, and a front cover plate being formed with air passages through which compressed air is supplied to at least one of the air movers . 
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 including means for advancing the web into the device at a controlled rate while the web is being threaded through the device, whereby the leading end of the web is entrained and moved forward by successive moving films of air emanating from a succession of air movers associated with respective guide members. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 2 in the form of a paper web printing device for a cigarette making machine. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 1 in which at least one of the rollers, other than in a printing roller, is replaced by a guide member with a convex outer surface around which the web is arranged to pass and having compressed air passages for forming an air bearing between the web and the outer surface of the guide member. 
     
     
       5. A web handling device through which the web is arranged to pass along a tortuous path extending around a number of rollers and including means for threading the web pneumatically comprising, in association with at least one of the rollers, a guide member having a guide surface which extends around part of the periphery of the roller in a spaced relationship so as to define a passage for the web, means for directing the web approximately tangentially towards the guide surface, and an air mover mounted on or adjacent to the upstream end of the guide surface, and arranged to pass a moving film of air along the guide surface while the web is being threaded through the apparatus, so as to entrain the web and convey it around the roller, in which the air mover comprises a body having a surface which is secured to the guide surface, and a hollow portion forming a chamber to be supplied with compressed air, said surface which is secured to the guide surface having a cut-out portion forming a recessed surface defining with an opposed portion of the guide surface an outlet slot communicating with said hollow chamber and aligned with said guide surface for directing a film of air along the guide surface. 
     
     
       6. A web handling device through which the web is arranged to pass along a tortuous path extending around a number of rollers and including means for threading the web pneumatically comprising, in association with at least one of the rollers, a guide member having a guide surface which extends around part of the periphery of the roller in a spaced relationship so as to define a passage for the web, means for directing the web approximately tangentially towards the guide surface, and an air mover mounted on or adjacent to the upstream end of the guide surface, and arranged to pass a moving film of air along the guide surface while the web is being threaded through the apparatus, so as to entrain the web and convey it around the roller, in which air movers for a number of guide members are mounted on the respective guide members, which are in turn mounted on a front cover plate which is movable away from the rollers to allow access thereto. 
     
     
       7. A device according to claim 6 in which the air mover comprises a body having surfaces which are secured to the guide surface, a hollow portion forming a chamber to be supplied with compressed air, and a recessed surface defining with an opposed portion of the guide surface an outlet slot for a film of air directed along the guide surface. 
     
     
       8. An air mover for producing a film of air along a guide surface for conveying web or other sheet material along the guide surface, comprising a body having a surface which is to be secured to the guide surface, and a hollow portion forming a chamber to be supplied with compressed air, said surface which is to be secured to the guide surface having a cut-out portion forming a recessed surface defining with an opposed portion of the guide surface an outlet slot communicating with said hollow chamber and aligned with said guide surface for directing a film of air along the guide surface. 
     
     
       9. An air mover according to claim 8 in which the chamber is defined partly by the hollow portion of the body and partly by the guide surface to which the body is to be secured. 
     
     
       10. A cigarette paper web printing device including a plurality of guide rollers, at least one printing roller and means for pneumatically threading the web through the printing device comprising, in association with each of a plurality of the said rollers, a guide member having a guide surface which extends around part of the periphery of the roller in a spaced relationship so as to define a passage for the web, means for directing the web approximately tangentially towards the guide surface, and an air mover mounted on or adjacent to the upstream end of the guide surface, and arranged to pass a moving film of air along the guide surface while the web is being threaded through the apparatus, so as to entrain the web and convey it around the roller, in which at least some of the guide members and air movers are mounted on the inside face of a transparent cover plate which is movable away from the rollers to allow access thereto and is formed with air passages for the supply of air to the air movers. 
     
     
       11. An air mover for producing a film of air along a guide surface of a guide member for conveying web or other sheet material along the guide surface, comprising a body having a surface which is to be secured to the guide member, and a hollow portion forming a chamber to be supplied with compressed air, at least one of said surface and said guide surface having a cut-out portion forming a recessed surface defining with an opposed portion of the other of said surfaces an outlet slot communicating with said hollow chamber and arranged to direct a film of air along the guide surface.